The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-04-14
To the Preachers.

of the pew listen gladly to your teaching
from the pulpit. Will you permit us
this once to answer back with few re.
fections that come to us as we try to
philosophize upon the effect your efforts
have in purifying the moral and political
elements around US?
"By their fruits ye shall know them."
If, as farmer, with average soil, eli.
mate and surroundings, with the inexora.
BILE laws of reproduction atmy command,
needing only common industry and in
telligent compliance with these laws to
succeed, my crops grow less and less each
year until I am bankrupt, my farm GOV.
cred with thistles, briers and thorns, and
my family threatened with starvation,
what could you say but that, as farmer,
I was a failure?
How is it with you in your field to day
as the husbandmen of the Lord? Are
not the laws of life and reproduction
more sure there than in the material
world? Will not the earnest, consecrated
use Of the means placed within your
reach as surely accomplish the end de.
sired and bring as certain success as in
the case of the farmer? If so, what
means this mad food of seculsrization
and immortality spreading Ger all the
land-this almost universal disregard for
the sanctity of Gods holy day by individ.
uals and corporations this vile traffic in
Sunday newspapers, not worse in traffic
than much of the vile stuff many of
them contain-and, worst Of all, the
legalized liquor traffic, which, indeed, we
should all fear, destroying as it does
both body and soul? Will you tell us
why this is so, and why, in 30 many
places in land where law is the crystal.
lization of the moral sentiment of the
people, these and worse crimes are not
only unchecked, but rapidly spreading,
until leading ministers of the great de.
nominations of the country, alarmed at
this seemingly resistless flood, are calling
Conventions of their wisest men to adopt,
if possible, some means 10 strengthen the
moral dikes before the whole country
shall be ruined by the terrible inunda'
ton?
Can the solution be, "Like priests,
like people?" From whence come the
moral forces that legislators may crystal
ize into erecutablc law if not from the
effects of your teaching on the hearts and
consciences of your hearers? If your
teachings generate no such force, where
lies the hindrapce? Certainly not in the
want of power or willingness in Him
who hath all power in heaven and earth,
and hath commissioned and sent you
forth 10 cast up the highway before him,
and hath promised that through you the
desert shall blossom as the rose.
Has the salt lost its savor, and is it
being trodden under foot of men who, in
their political actions, in the discharge of
their God-like prerogative selfgovern'
ment, "forget God" in voting tor and with
men who from party associations and for
selfish purposes uphold men and parties
who refuse to make aud execute righteous
laws for the suppression of these great
sins that invite the wrath of God and
seriously threaten the life and peace Of
the patton? Can it be true that your
failure to cry aloud and spare not those
who thus "forget God" in the discharge
of their political duties, and from your
political relations and other kindlie,
associations with them you have, as
above iutimated, become like them, &c
that both priests and people are gone
astray. We take Of our substance as we
toll day after day six days of the week tc
support you and yours, that while we care
for secular and home interests, you may
in the purer and clearer atmosphere OF
Zion's walls, so teach that Righteousness
which exelteth nation may result there
from, and not iniquity be framed into
law. Have you done so?
If so, why in the city of Cincinnati
in the great Christian State of Ohio, d.
we find by one great party iniquity
framed into the Dow law, authorizing
the open violation of the Sabbath, ane
legalizing the awful curse of the Liquor
traffic all the seven days of the week
and IN my own State, by another grea
party, the Lords day made merchandise
| of for the use of railroads? "How shall
we escape" if you sound not the trump
et2 Whose right and duty is it to gen
crate and marshal the moral forces
necessary to the destruction Of thes'
denominations, if not yours?
And will you say tina, to attempt to dt
so will create strife and division? Dit
the Master say be came not to bring
peace, but a sword, and is it declared
that there was mighty contest between
Michael and the Dragon? Are 70,
doubtful or afraid of the result? If so
had you not better turn back from goinl
with Gideon's band? We are free to sa.
that we look upon you as the representa-
tives of the instrumentality whereof!
God would conquer the world, and III
have little faith in the rapid destruction
of the great iuiquities We have outlined
until from your trumpets there comes nj
uncertain sound. Will you permit M
to call your attention to the following
utterances of one who depicts in his de
scription of the condition of the creates
city of the country the seeming inefi
cheney of the pulpit 10 even modify o
neutralize political corruption, when b
says:
"The handspring Of Democracy in thi
city New York is coiled in the worm o
the still. The ghost of Thomas Jeffer